Steering column support frame

[David_17]

Has anyone got any tips or extra measurements for the steering column support? :confused:

No matter how many times i measure it, I just can't seem to get everything lined up. Are the plates supposed to sit flat against it? Or just meet at the top and weld it on??

Anyone got any close up pics which might help??

It's the first bit of my chassis that doesn't want to fit. :rolleyes:

[davidimurray]

AshG has got some good pics/dimensions in the chassis section of his pic gallery -

http://s707.photobucket.com/albums/ww75/ashgardiner/

[David_17]

Ah. Thanks for the quick reply.

Mine looks close, but if i get the sides to line up, the top isn't level, and if i level the top, the plates don't reach. :mad:

Anyone able to get a measurement (CAD?) from here to here on both sides??

http://filebeam.com/b768280c5f423551230d8c92704547d6.jpg

I'd be very greatful.

Cheers

Dave

[HandyAndy]

Just use the plates to set the distance for the support,
You might need to alter the angle where they meet the top rail & the tranny tunnel tho,

Set the plates 60mm apart & then you will find the bracket from your steering column will fit nicely ;) :)

Whilst the support is critical to the steering column, the height of it isn,t as there is loads of space under the scuttle , just make sure its level.

hope this helps.

cheers
andy

[David_17]

Thanks Andy. That's what i was trying this evening, but when i tacked the plates to the support and lined up SW1 and SW3 with the chassis, SW2 wasn't level. :mad:

I'll have another go tomorow and see how i get on. :rolleyes:

[HandyAndy]

as long as you use the plates to determine the distance & SW2 is level it,ll be fine & dandy :) it sort of "finds " its own position on the chassis rails, but as a double check keep an eye on the height measurement of SW2 from the book, get it as close as you can but ensure SW2 is level.

By the way......is your steering column an adjustable one?

cheers
andy

[David_17]

As far as i know it's not adjustable, haven't paid it much attention yet, just measured the centers for the brackets.

Is the 71 degree angle of the plates not too critical then??

[HandyAndy]

yes it is " in a fashion" so to speak ,

as this ensures that the column will be in the correct position/angle to miss any chassis rails ( TR9 & TR8 ) as it passes in between both of them,

easiest thing to do is get the steering column & place it into position, & thus you can determine the correct position of SW1, SW2 & SW3,
honestly, it makes it alot easier, as it takes away any "guess work" as you,ll see that the column doesn,t foul any rails etc.

cheers
andy

[davidimurray]

Are you cutting your own tubes ? If so and your working to the book dimensions then you will find that the angle on one end of the steering frame is wrong.

[David_17]

Are you cutting your own tubes ? If so and your working to the book dimensions then you will find that the angle on one end of the steering frame is wrong.

Ah ha.. I bought the chassis pre cut (2nd hand from someone on here), i checked the angles and they're to book spec. Any idea which is wrong and what it should be??

[davidimurray]

I remember asking Chris about this before and he confirmed they are wrong. The 71 deg to the top chassis rail in Fig 4.20 is correct. I have a memory that SW3 is the tube that needs the angle altering - but I can't be 100% sure. If you don't get an answer beforehand - I can check the angles on my car on saturday

[David_17]

Ok. Cheers, if noone can confirm the angle before tomorow evening, i'll try connecting all the other bits up then cut SW3 to fit. Should work :o

[davidimurray]

Just had a quick look at the book - end of SW1 is cut at 23 deg - which when you work out it comes to 90-23 = 67deg and not 71. Hence I think it may be SW1 you need to cut to 19 deg instead.

[David_17]

Thanks to your help, i managed to get it sorted this evening... however... I balanced a seat in the car (on 25mm box section) and sat in it for the first time, problem is, my eyes are inline with the top of the steering wheel.

After IVA i'll be putting a smaller one on, so shouldn't be a problem, but what about iva man?

Anyone else have this problem? (rack isn't height adjustable).

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk222/David_17UK/Roadster/DSCF1870.jpg

One other question for this evening, can anyone give me a clue to where these plates go? :o

[EDIT] Had a look at some pics, and i'm guessing cp8 goes at the back for the fuel tank to sit on? and one of the cp14s at the back of the transmission tunnel for the handbrake cable. What about the others??

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk222/David_17UK/Roadster/DSC01873.jpg

[Eternal]

cp14 goes in the center area of the diff cant remember what its called now... anyhow it holds he handbreak cable ect, The large triangle plates with the edges cut are for the ally rear tub same with the little squares with holes. dont have the book to hand but if you look in the rear tub section you will see them. As for the long triangles cp24....... well i have yet to find out :D

[David_17]

Great. Thanks for the help. Do both CP14s go in the diff area?

Also anyone else had problems with steering wheel or seat height?? Or are you all tall? :o :p

[james3004]

I think you only need 1 cp14 for the handbrake:)

[les g]

CP24
front of engine bay
where the engine rails meet the outer rails
they are like a fillet to reinforce the join
br1-br8 and br2-br9
cheers les g

[ozzy1]

cp 14 - 1 off req to locate handbrake cable(slot both holes to slide cable in easily)
cp9 - 2 off ( square with square cut out & hole in) roll bar support plates
cp8 2 off fuel tank supports
cp25 2 0ff (larger triangle) below cp9 to strengthen cp9 supports
cp24 as les g said

[HandyAndy]

CP9 & CP25 only needed if you are fitting an ali rear tub, but if fitting a GRP tub you,ll need an extra frame layout to attach it to ( see other thread/posts about the layout).

cheers
andy

[David_17]

Thanks for the help guys, spent ages today holding the little triangle all over the chassis, then finally found it!

My grinder packed in this afternoon, but when i got home found that it was just a wire had snapped inside the flex. So can crack on again tomorow.

By the end of tomorow i hope to have the rest of the wishbones cut (and possibly weld one or two) and get the suspension brackets and seat rails welded on the chassis.

Then i'm waiting to get some M8 nuts for the roll bar mounts (i've only got stainless ones at the moment) which means i can get the back end of the chassis finished, then some 7/16 unf nuts for the seatbelt mounts (the shop that sells them is only open mon-fri 9-4.30 when i'm ususally at work) :rolleyes:

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk222/David_17UK/Roadster/DSC01874.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk222/David_17UK/Roadster/DSC01876.jpg

After that, the chassis is about finished, besides engine mounts and headlamp brackets :D